{"id":61326,"date":"2021-10-03T08:38:05","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T13:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=61326"},"modified":"2021-10-03T09:10:05","modified_gmt":"2021-10-03T14:10:05","slug":"tigers-get-job-done-over-12th-ranked-lopers-on-homecoming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=61326","title":{"rendered":"Tigers get job done over 12th ranked Lopers on Homecoming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY CAYDEN SANDERS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHOTOS BY JESS KIRCHHOFF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up by 21 points at halftime, the high-powered University of  Nebraska-Kearney Loper offense had the game in the palm of their hands on Saturday against Fort Hays State University. However, the Lopers ran out of gas against the Tiger defense as FHSU secured essential stops and their offense got white-hot, scoring on every drive in the second half to come back and win 42-35 at Lewis Field Stadium on Homecoming.
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While UNK and FHSU is a rivalry that dates back to the days of the RMAC, the game hasn’t been as much of a rivalry of late, as the Tigers have won nine out of the last matchups. UNK entered the game undefeated and ranked #12 in the nation, poised for their first win in Hays since 2005. 
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After trailing by 21 at halftime, the Tigers needed to hit the reset button. Quarterback Chance Fuller said he urged his defense to give him and the Tiger offense a few more stops in order to allow FHSU to get back into the game.
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\u201cWe were just trying to stay calm, we knew we were hurting ourselves,\u201d Fuller said. \u201cI went around the locker room telling the defense I have their back, I just need a couple stops and that’s what they did, and as an offense, we put it all together and it was our turn to have their back and to win this ball game.\u201d 
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Fort Hays received the ball and start the second half at their 19-yard line. Fuller found wide receiver Alex Schremmer to gain 36 yards on the play and then put the ball in Manny Ramsey\u2019s hands to advance the drive. The Tigers finally found the endzone on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to his tight end Hunter Budke. 
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The drive went 81 yards on seven plays. 
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After UNK scored again to push the margin back to 21, Fort Hays opened their next drive with another Fuller to Ramsey connection to get to the midfield. After a Fuller 20-yard scramble, Voshon Waiters got a chance in the game and took advantage with a 10-yard first-down run, setting up a Fuller 17-yard touchdown pass to Schremmer. 
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UNK answered yet again with a six-play, 79-yard TD drive to go back up by 21 points. However, FHSU\u2019s defense held UNK from the endzone the remainder of the game – the Tigers just needed to rely on their offense to get the job done.  
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\u201cWe felt that we just needed a few stops, and that was our thought,\u201d Head Coach Chris Brown said. \u201c If our defense could just get a few stops our offense would take care of the rest of the game, and that is what happened. We got some big plays when we needed it and once we got that one stop we knew we had a chance to win this game.\u201d
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FHSU\u2019s ensuing drive started with a big kick return from Adrian Soto setting up another Fuller to Ramsey touchdown. A Loper punt put the ball back in the Tigers\u2019 hands at the 50-yard line. A quick four-play, 54-yard drive pulled FHSU within seven after Waiters connected with Budke for Waiters\u2019 first touchdown of the game. Waiters – who has played behind Fuller for the past two seasons – stepped in and played well in his moment, something Fuller knew was always possible. 
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\u201cBubba [Waiters] that\u2019s my guy, he is one of the best quarterbacks in this conference, I think anyone on this team trusts him with anything,\u201d Fuller said. \u201cHe made some great plays and he is a key part of our offense, and we have a great relationship, so I am happy for him and I am sure he is happy for me getting this win together.\u201d 
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With their lead trimmed to just seven, UNK failed to move the chains resulting in FHSU gaining another possession. Trailing by a single touchdown, the Tigers marched down the field and into the red zone after a 22-yard pass from Fuller to Schremmer. Fuller nearly got into the endzone on a nine-yard run, but Keylan Chapman punched it in from one-yard out to even the game, 35-35. 
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